FACT: The Secrets of the Ubiquitous Facebook

Who is not using Facebook these days? If you do not have a fb account, “you are an alien” is what the world thinks of you.  But do you know the facts and statistics about fb. I’m sure, you will be amazed. Read On here.

1. Al Pacino's Face Was on the Original Facebook Homepage. 

2. Facebook has over 350 million active users.

3. More than 35 million users update their status each day, with more than 55 million status updates each day.

4. The average Facebook user has 130 friends and sends eight friend requests per month.

 

5. In 2008, a 23-year-old woman named Lauren Michaels created a group titled “I Need Sex” on Facebook. Within 10 minutes, she had 35 members and soon attracted 100—50 of whom she eventually slept with. Facebook has since removed her page.

See: http://metro.co.uk/2008/04/02/facebook-sex-addict-laura-michaels-slept-with-50-men-63672/

6. If Facebook were a country, it would be the fifth-largest country in the world, after China, India, the U.S., and Indonesia.

7. In 2009, an EMT at the crime scene took a cell phone picture of the body of a New York woman who had been strangled and beaten and then posted it on his Facebook profile. He was later arrested on charges of official misconduct and was fired from his job

8. The New Oxford Dictionary announced that the 2009 Word of the Year was “unfriend,” as in “to remove someone as a friend on a social networking site” such as Facebook. However, there is some debate whether the word should be “defriend” rather than “unfriend.

9. While initially created for college students, Facebook users over the age 26 now represent 60% of the total U.S. Facebook population

10. Forbes dubbed 25-year-old Mark Zuckerberg, the creator/owner of Facebook, as the world’s youngest billionaire, worth 1.5 billion

11. Syria, China, Vietnam, and Iran have banned Facebook

12. The first person to invest in Facebook was the cofounder of PayPal, Peter Thiel, who invested $500,000 in June 2004

13. Lamebook.com is a regularly updated site that reposts “lame” and funny Facebook user posts.

See: http://www.lamebook.com/

14. In Florida, the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee ruled that Florida judges and lawyers should no longer “friend” each other on Facebook

15. Twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss claim Zuckerberg stole their idea after they hired him to do programming for their own site, Harvard Connect (ConnectU). The case was settled for an undisclosed sum. Others, such as fellow student, Aaron Greenspan, also claim they invented Facebook

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_and_Tyler_Winklevoss

16. A “gaydar” software program developed at MIT can reportedly identify gay men on Facebook, private profile or not

17. A 20-year-old IBM employee in Canada lost sick leave benefits from her insurer because her Facebook page showed “cheerful” photos while she was on paid sick leave for depression.

18. On July 1, 2009, shortly after Michael Jackson passed away, his page became the most popular page on Facebook. Previously, the most popular person on Facebook was U.S. President Obama with just over 6 million fans.

19. There are more than 800,000 developers building applications for Facebook.

20. Second most visited website after Google, with 24 million unique visits per day.

PLACES: Old Manila and the Nostalgic Pinay

Manila is said to be one of the finest, one of the most beautiful Cities in Asia during 1950’s. Considered as one the best place for Tourism during the 50-‘s and 60’s. But after those years, what happened?

I know that most of you are not yet born during these years, or maybe, you’re one of the cute babies of the 50’s. Kapag galing ka sa probinsya, o yung tinatawag nilang “syana” or “syano”, maganda ang Maynila ngayon, yan ang lagi nilang sinasabi. Maraming magagarang sasakyan, matataas na gusali, maiilaw na lugar, malalawak na pamilihan. True. Really. But if you will ask our Lolos and Lola, Mom and Dad, and even other nationalities who visited Manila before, they will say that Manila is a lot better in 1950’s. Ganon?! How come? There were no huge shopping centers back then. Ali Mall was built only in 1976. (Ali Mall is the very first major shopping center in the Philippines from by the way after Muhammed Ali’s boxing victory). No bars or disco house that are fully air-conditioned. No MRT or LRT for easier transportation. And so I got curious. I did some research and proofs came out easily. Tama sila pareho. Maganda ang Manila ngayon. Pero MAS nakakaanyaya ang kapaligiran noon.

Bata pa lang ako, pingarap ko na ang makapagtrabaho sa Manila, particularly in Makati. And it came true. Pero mas maganda palang pangarapin ang  Maynila noon. Simple at payak ang pamumuhay ng mga tao. Sayang, hindi na natin ito kailanman makikita.

Mapalad ang mga taong nakaranas ng ganito kagandang Maynila…

Old Manila is just now inside the box of beautiful memories...

Can you recognize the cars? Chevy Bel-air 1958, Simca 1961-62s, Toyopet 1960s, VW Beetle 1960's, early 1960's Mercedez Benz 220... Take note, naka sapatos ang mga tao, walang naka tsinelas kahit sa Avenida. It's clean and the people are very disciplined.

There were no Metro Aides, Bayani Fernando Cleaners, and stores cleaned their areas. Pedestrians were also very disciplined. Very little “hukays” and manholes were clean and were clearly visible to pedestrians. People were so disciplined. Take a look at the Pedxings. The streets were shiny, much like the streets of Singapore now. 

LYRIC Theatre (in the photo below), IDEAL, STATE, ODEON were the best theatres. Environment inside and outside...absolutely clean. There were no double parking allowed and drivers followed. Streets didn’t have 2 policemen and 4 Traffic Aides for each corner. You’d be safe even if you held a clutch bag while shopping. Manholes were covered well and during those days, I remember them....as clean and polished, much like those you’d see in Champ Elysee’. We could beat Paris. Ang ganda ng bayan natin noon.

Dencia’s was famous for Pansit Mami, much like Mamonluk or Ricebowl. P1.50 ang Mami, 10 sentimo ang Coca-Cola. 5 centimo ang sarsaparilla. This was very near Villalobos and Carriedo. Look at the jeepneys. They were not overloaded.

Pasig was very clean. The photographer must have taken this photo (below) October to December timeframe. But Pasig, during summer would have beautiful water lilies, tiny Quiapo’s floating amidst white, yellow and purple water lilies that I remember. Water from our rich and abundant rivers were emerald green and blue. Napakalinis and walang amoy 

 Manila was just a beautiful place. 

Avenida Rizal was a treat to everyone. There were no prostitutes nor body-brokers. Avenida was not a fickle place. It was not a “now a bistro boulevard, tomorrow a street; now a tiangge or night market and tomorrow a bistro boulevard”. It was a simple avenida where everyone enjoyed to see what was “now showing”, what movie was “extended showing”, and if Otis or Good Earth had a big sale. It was just a big clean place. 

Ayala Avenue was just like Wilshire Boulevard. Clean and no pollution. You can walk and enjoy the sun. Napakalinis. Walang masyadong trash bins pero walang basura sa paligid. 

Even Parks like Fort Santiago was much better. No vendors, no cafe’s. There was not even an ATM machine. Malinis ang paligid.

Here's Manila Cathedral when the photo was taken in 1968.

Aerial view of Manila - Port Area. One thing you'll notice in these photos is the lack of garbage on the streets. Also, there's no road construction. Just look at the quality of the roads, it's all flat and concrete. Not even a crack or broken sidewalks.

Manila - Port area with view of the Pasig River.

Pasig river when it was the heart of the city for trade and transportation. Look, no trash!

Downtown Manila. I remember we used to have windows like these where I used to live.

Calesas before it was replaced by pedicabs. I'm not sure where this is but it looks like somewhere in Binondo.

Feati University

Sidewalks were not extended to suit the pedestrians. Quiapo Church was a blessed monument. Nagbibigayan ang mga drivers. Bihira ang nag-gigitgitan. 

If you’d take an L5 plane or a Piper Cab and take pictures of Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Boulevard) from above, you’d be so proud to say, that the place is much better than Cote’d Azure. Environment was just so very clean, air was refreshing, and take a look at the sea....wasn’t that a gift given to us during those days?!

And finally, Rizal Memorial Park. People actually go out to enjoy the sun because it was cooler back then. Sa iba, corny ang bumisita sa Luneta. Pero sa mga nakakaraang henerasyon, kayamanan na ang makarating sa nag iisang Rizal Park sa buong mundo...

I don't own any of these photos, since I am kid of the 80's :D But thanks to those who captured these memories. I envy them... really...

You can see other pictures at:

http://palaisip.blogspot.com/2010/02/manila-most-beautiful-city-in-asia.html

http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/cdm/search/searchterm/Manila/field/all/mode/all/conn/and/order/title/ad/asc/cosuppress/0

PEOPLE: A Love Triangle

 

This is actually an old joke na about the Love Story Inday who fell in love. A typical love story in which involves 3rd party. But not so typical when it comes to expressing what and how they feel - through words. :D

Note: What you are about to read is purely fictional which I saw from website several years back. It just made me feel fine every time I read this one. +_+

HAPPY THURSDAY!

The skies were clear, the birds were chipping. Ang ganda-ganda ng araw! Nasa SM ako noon at katatapos ko lang mamili ng groceries. Timing naman nasa foodcore si Angel Locsin, nagpro-provoke ng movie nya. Grabe, andaming fans, pull-packed talaga! Dahil fans nya rin ako, nakipila rin ako.

Then suddenly, out of the loo, may bumulong sa akin ng: "Indaaaayyyy. ....." Huh? It sounded like a familiar sound. Who can it be now? "Dodong!" sigaw ko. Napalakas yata voice ko. Kasi the other fans turned their backs to their behind at napatingin sa amin. Sabi ko "Sorry, I didn't mean to be loud and proud." Hinawakan na lang ni Dodong ang kamay ko at lumayo kami from the crowd.

"Kamusta na Inday? Do you come here open? tanong nya. "Bihira lang, Dodong. I'm just droppings by. Ethnic and schedule ko eh"sabi ko.

Memories came flushing in my mind. How can I forget to remember Dodong? Siya na may mata ni Piolo, dimple ni Aga, at bigote ni Rex Cortez. he's every woman's dreamboat. I was just starting my tour of duty kay ate noon nang unang makilala ko si Dodong. Contraction worker siya sa ginagawang bahay sa tapat namin. Naging kami for a while then after that were not an item anymore.

"Tanghali na Inday. What did you say we have lunch together?" tanong ni Dodong. "I don't mine" sagot ko. Sa restaurant, nilapitan kaagad kami ng waiter. "What's your odor sir?" sabi nung waiter kay Dodong.

"Do you have porkshop?" tanong ni Dodong. "Yes sir" sabi nito. "Our porkshop with a resistance to the teeth of boast of our chef. Domestic careful selection of pork with little fat of female liking is used. The exquisite cooking which repeated trial and error and was completed. it also has healthy vegetables with salad feeling fully" dagdag niya.

"And you mam?" sabay tingin naman sa akin. Hmmm... mukhang masarap yung porkshop. Pero I'm cutting down on my carbon kaya pinigilan ko. "I'll just have water, thanks. Liquidate diet ako eh." sagot ko. Pagkatapos kumain, nagyaya si Dodong manood ng sine. Teka teka, this is going too far. Besides, it's a long, long way to run.

"Reality chess, Dodong. May asawa na ako, si Jay. As a mother of fact, I'm happily married" pagmamalaki ko. "Di na pwede yung tulad ng dati. Sorry pero I didn't expect you still have more feelings than I expected. i don't want you getting the way. Past is fast. Therefore, cause and defect." dagdag ko pa.

Tumahimik sya. Parang may language barrel na namagitan sa amin. The seconds that passed seemed like fraternity. Di nagla-on, nagsalita na rin sya.

"I don't care less!" sigaw ni Dodong. Shocks, give me a brake! The nerd ng taong ito para sigawan ako! To think it's his other woman that caused our separation to part. Kinabahan na ako. I felt speedbumps all over my body and was having panic attach. Tinalikuran ko siya at nagmadali akong lumakad palayo. Pero sumunod pa rin siya like a monkey on my butt. Hanggang sa makakita ako ng security guard. Biglang nawala si Dodong.

"Excuse me kuya, pwedeng magtanong?" sabi ko sa mamang guard. "Of course miss, I can help you with my pleasure." sagot niya. "Saan po ba ang exit? Could you point me to the right erection? I got lost in my eyes." "Diretso lang." sabi niya. "Then turn right anytime with care." "Thanks for your corporation" sabi ko.

Buti na lang nandun si kuya. Pero saglit lang, I smell something peachy. As I turned, nakita ko na namang nakasunod si Dodong! Delaying static lang pala kanina ang pag disappear nya.

"Nyahahaha! You can run but you can hide, Inday. No matter where you go, there you are!" pananakot nya. Oh no, is this the end? This is too much, I feel degradable. My world started falling afar.

Then suddenly, Jay come from behind! Dodong was caught to the act! In the matter of minute, it's all over. I'm out of arm's way. "Thanks Jay, my love. But how did you?" bago pa man ako matapos, sabi niya: "I was in the neighborhood. Fans din ako ni Angel eh. I heard you shout but at first I didn't give it a thought. Pero nang makita ko kayong
magkahawak ng holding hands, then I give it a thought. I know something is a missed."

From then on, Dodong did not brother me again. In fact, he didn't even sister me. As in platonic at wala na talaga. Pero kami ni Jay, heto, shoot sailing pa rin ang relationship. Lalo pa ngayon, open na kami sa isa't-isa at walang exhibitions.

I feel I'm on cloud.